Mouthpiece-connecting device and tuning slide for wind musical instruments



Jan. 23, 1923. 1,443,122. w. GEMEINHARDT.

MOUTHPIECE CONNECTING DEVICE AND TUNING SLIDE FOR WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. FILED SEPT-23' 1920.

t; In ven tor:

WALTER- ssmsmnmnr by Atty Patented Jan. 23, 1923.

UNITED STATES WALTER GEMEINHARDT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MOUTHPIECE-CONNECTING DEVICE AND TUNING SLIDE FOR WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Application filed September 23, 1920. Serial No. 412,153.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VAL'rnR GEMEINHARDT, a citizen of the German Republic, residing at New York city, New York, have invented new and use t'ul Improvements in Mouthpiece-Connecting Devices and Tuning Slides for Wind Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wind musical instruments particularly of the reed type, and an object of the invention is to provide an improved means whereby the air column may be lengthened or shortened for the purpose of tuning.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved means, of simple construction whereby the mouthpiece maybe connectcd with the tulii-ular end of the instrument.

\Vhile the invention is applicable to different forms of reed instruments, it is particularly adapted as a mouthpiece adjustment for saxophones.

I provide a means whereby the instrument may be rendered flat or sharp by simply sliding the mouthpiece toward or away from the body portion of the instrument.

As now used in the art, particularly by professional players, the tubular end of the instrun'ient is usually provided with a covering of cork or other similar substance which acts as an air-tight connecting means enabling the mouthpiece to be joined to the tubular end of the instrument. This hollow cork covering has many obj ectional features. It is porous and consequently absorbs the moisture from the players mouth and in this respect it is unsanitary.

As now used the instrument is tuned by forcing the moutpiece so that it more nearly covers the cork, if it is desired to shorten the aircolumn, and this soon leaves the cork worn and compressed. Therefore when it is desired to withdraw the mouthpiece in order to tune by lengthening the air column the worn andcompressed cork must he padded.

As a consequence the used cork must be replaced at short intervals.

An object of my invention is the provision of a means for tuning the instrument. It is of the utmost importance in this respect that the bore of the tubular end of the instrument remain intact. This important feature has been usually disregarded in the construction of means for tuning.

It is to be noted that as now used in the art the reed is bound to the mouthpiece by a broad band ligature. Pressure from the ligature against the rubber mouthpiece tends to depress the rubber especially after the same has become heated by being in the mouth of the player for some time.

My invention provides a very simple construction which remedies all the defects of the present art as pointed out above.

I provide a connecting means, preferably of metal which replaces the cork, and one which always remains dry, clean and sanitary. My connecting means is permanent and lasts for the life of the instrument. My in vention provides a simple construction for tuning which does not in any way modify the bore of the tubular end of the instrument but leaves the same as designed by the manufacturer. By means of my invention the rubber mouthpiece is braced and supported against pressure from the ligature which holds the reed in place, and is thus prevented from losing its shape and becoming depressed.

Another advantage of my device is the provision of a means for rotatively adjusting the mouthpiece so that the horn of the instrument may be held in any desired position while the mouthpiece may be turned at any angle which suits the convenience of the player.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a joint of this character which is simple in construction, readily and easily adjusted, strong, neat in appearance, reliable and eilicient in operation and inexpensive in manufacture, and one which can be readily applied to existing instruments without undue alteration.

With these and other objects in view. the invention consists in the construction. combination and. arrangement oi parts as will he hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended;

In the drawing Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a saxophone to which my invention is applied. Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view thereof. Figure 3 is a perspective view of that portion of the connecting-device and tuning slide which enters and is afiixed to the mouthpiece.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views ofthe drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, 10'

designates the tubular end of an instrument, for example a saxophone, to which my invention is applied, said end being provided with a thin, preferably metal, tube 11 uniform in bore, which telescopes with the tubular end of the instrumentlO. At 12 the tube 11 is welded or soldered onto the surface of the instrument in this way firmly securing it thereto and sealing the joint. Inasmuch as the tubular endlO tapers so that at its very end 15 it is smaller in diameter than at any otherpoint, there is provided at this end 15, a preferably metal, band 13 which serves to take up the space (caused by the taper) between the outer surface of theinstrument and the inner surface of the tube 1 1. This band 13 is soldered or welded at its inner surface to the instrun'ient and at its outerperiphery it is soldered or welded to the inner surface of tube 11, thus making of the tube 11, the band 13 and the end of the instrument 15 all one piece. It will be seen that in this way the bore 16 of the instrument remains intact.

The outer surface ofthe tubular end of the instrument is however modified as above described so as to provide a surface of uniform diameter for a convenient distance from the end 15 of the instrument;

The mouthpiece 17 is provided with a tube 14, preferably of metal, part of which tube 14 sets permanently into the mouthpiece and is held firmly in place by pressure from a tightly fitting ring 18 which engages a groove on the eriphery ofmouth'piece 17. The end of tulle 14 which does not enter into the mouthpiece 17 is split at 19 for a short distance so as to allow play in opening and closing. This split end of tube 14 is provided with a split collar 16 having threaded lugs 20 and 20 which collar is welded or soldered and thus firmly seated onto tube 14 and formsa part thereof. At 19 where the tube 14is split, the collar 16 has its ends separated so as to accommodate the space caused bythe split in the tube at 19. The threaded lugs 20 and 20 extend at 19 so as to accommodate a clamp screw 21. \Vhen the screw 21 is tightened it closes the space between the lugs'QO and 20 and closes the split portion 19 of-thetube 14; 25 represents a ligature which holds a reed in position on the mouthpiece 17.

The bore of'tu'be 14 is of suitable diameter so as to accommodate with sliding frictional contact the outer surface of tube 11. It is as thus described that the mouthpiece 17 with tube 14 firmly fixed therein slides over the outer surface of tube 11 and in this way' may be set at any desired position thereon.

l Vhen it is desired to shorten the air column the mouth-piece portion is moved toward the body portion ofthe instrument. Whenit is desired to lengthen the air column the mouthpiece portion is moved away from the body portion of theinstrument. When the mouthpiece portion is in the desired position relative to the body portion of the instrument the same may be firmly set by tightening the clamp screw 21;

It will be observed-that the attachment may be readil applied to instruments of the character escribed and that the tuning or change of pitch as well as the setting of the mouthpiece in a position suitable to the player may be accomplished by either a rotative or a longitudinal movement or a composite movement of the mouthpiece, with respectto themain portion of the instrument.

I claim:

In an'attachable union and tuning joint forzwind musical instruments, the combination with the tapered tubular terminal of said instrument, of a cylindrical tube surrounding said terminal, an annular filler between the terminal and the cylindrical tube, saidfiller being rigidly secured to both the terminal and the tube at the free end'of the latter, a-mouth piece for said instrument comprising a member having a tubular bore, a tubular extension projecting from the bore ofsaid member and having its free end split, said extension beingiadapted to telescope over said cylindrical tube, and a split'clamp embracing the split end of said extension, whereby the mouth piece may be locked to said instrument at any point along said cylindrical tube:

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 25th day of August, 1920.

WALTER GEMEINHARDT. Vitnesses:

THOMAS E. COLLINS, EDWIN LEVISQHN. 

